Machine for manufacturing blocks



(N0 Model.) 2 Sheets-*Sheet l.

. A. DIETZ. MACHINE FOR THE MANUFAGTURE 0F BLOCKS, &c., OUT OF ASPHALT, dac.

Patented D60. 4, 1883;

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' jammed and breaks.

t j UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. I

AUGUSTUSDIETZ, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING BLOCKS, &c., OUT 0F ASPHALT, &c.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 289,397, dated December-54.', 1883. Application filed VMay 14, 188.3. (No model.) y

To a/,ZZ whom t may concern,.-

Be it known that I, AUGUSTUS DiErz, formerly 'of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, but now of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Machine `for the Manufacture of Blocks, Src., out of Asphalt and Similar Materials.

The following is a specification of my inven tion, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, whereini Figure. l is a vertical longitudinal section through the center of the machine, and Fig. 2 a vertical transverse section on the line of the axis of driving-shaft. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the machine. Fig. lis a transverse section through the pressing-drum on the line :c x of Fig. 3. Figs. 5'and 6 `are transverse sections through the periphery of the mold-wheel on lines yy and zz, Fig. 1, respectively; and Fig. 7 is a plan view of a portion of said periphery, showing the trimming-knife hereinafter described.

My invention relates to that class of ma` chines in which a wheel having a series of radial molds in its periphery is combined with devices for compressing plastic material in such molds.

The use of various machines, of this general character in the manufacture of bricks, Sto., from clay is common; but, so far as `I am aware, nonc of them have been successfully applied to the production of blocks of asphalt The main `diflculties in dealing with this class of substances arise from the fact that they must undergo a high degree of compression and consequent reduction in bulk in order to fit them for practical use, and unless the pressure is properly applied and the material maintained in a suitably-plastic condition during the process, the machine inevitably becomes rIhe main feature of my invention consists in the combination, with a suitable mold-wheel of the kind before described, of successive pressing devices, whereby a pressure, at first yielding and subsequently rigid, is applied,

` and of means whereby the material is retained in a plastic state during the whole period of treatment. i

Various subsidiary devices for accomplish ing details of the operation andconvenient features of construction arealso included in my invention. i

In the drawings, W represents the bedplate ofthe machine, upon whichare supported the housings A. I prefer to cast these housings in separate pieces and secure them cated. v v v i The mold-wheelI is mountedv upon a strong wheel, A2, driven by a suitable pinion, A3 to whose shaft the driving-pulley is attached. Said mold-wheel is constructed as follows: A

q, near its periphery,vis cast with anumber of. .hollow projecting pieces, b, upon one face, the chamber c, Fig. `6, in each of these projections communicating with the duct q, and` from the duct g radial passages@2 lead to a central passage, a', in the shaft A. An an-y nular rim, B', is secured by bolts and nuts b against the face of the projections b, thus closing the outer end of the chambers c. The rim B has preferably countersunk spaces b2 to receive the bolt-heads. The adjacent faces of in the periphery of the wheel. A steel edge, s, is secured by bolts b4 at one edge of each of the projections b. Plungers D iit closely in the spaces or molds between the projections b, and are provided with friction-rollers e f, whose shafts extend into and are guided by Upon a semicircular piece, G, which is secured between the housings A, are mounted andthe withdrawing-cams F and J above the rollers f. (SeeFig. 4.) `The cam n is secured n', while the cams Fand Jl are mounted `upon arms or standards E.

The4 configuration of the several cams is shown in Figs. 1 and 3; but it may be varied as desired.

A reservoir, K, provided with a steamjacket, M', fits closely between the projecting `iianges of the disk B and rim B', the bottom of the reservoir being open and the sides conforming with the periphery of the moldwheel. A gate or feed-regulator, N, extends across the front of the reservoir K, and is adtogether by means of bolts and nuts asA indishaft, A', to which ,is also` keyed a large gear-` disk, B, having an internal d-uct or passage,

the protruding-cam n beneath the rollers e,

to the piece G by means of countersunk bolts each pair ofprojections b are parallel, thus forming a series of uniform rectangular molds radial grooves d in the face of the disk B.

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justable vertically by means of a hand wheel and screw, l', mounted upon the bracket k. The gate N is hollow, and is provided with suitable connections for admitting steam to its interior. A hollow presser-roller, H, is mounted in slide-bearings g in the housings A, the bearings being adjustable toward and from the periphery of the mold wheel by means of set-screws 7a3 and Land being also provided with strong springs 7a2, which permit the use of the cylinder in case material should jam between its surface and that of the mold-wheel. The roller H is steam-tight, and is provided with inlets h h2 and outlets h3 h4 to maintain a steam-circulation. Ascraper, Q, is mounted at a convenient point and bears against the roller across its entire length. Adf jacent to the roller H/n oblique-edged trimming-knife, R, is secured to the housings in contact with the periphery of the mold-wheel, between the flanges, and below the knife is a stationary presser composed of a hollow box,

t Q, firmly secured against thrust radial from the mold-wheel, and having a heavy `metal plate, T,which fits snugly between the flanges of the mold-wheel, and has a smooth surface, which.

conforms tothe periphery of the wheel, thus forming fora considerable arc of the circumference a close cover to the molds. Suitable steam-connections are provided for the heat-4 ing of the box Q, and the supports L of the latter admit of horizontal adjustment towardk vthe face of the mold-wheel by means 'of the bolts and nuts P. A stop-bar, S, is secured between the housings A at the bottom of the wheel, and beneath this bar is an endless belt, V, actuated by a pulley, W. Between the presser-box Q and the stop-bar S are sprinklers t t t, with suitable connections for supply-f ing cold water.

Steam, being let into the duct ce' of the shaft,-

passes through the radial channels c to the passage q, and thence to the chambers c between the molds. lThe presser-roller H, box Q, and reservoir K are also heated by the admission of steam, and the reservoir is filled with the hot plastic asphalt O, which flows into the molds then ybeneath the reservoir, whose plungers D are ator. near the bottom. The mold-wheel is thenrotated in the direction of the arrow, and the charged molds pass out beneath the gate N, which is adj usted so as to leave a slight surplus on the top. The molds then are brought beneath the heated presser-roller H, and their contents are uniformly and strongly compressed thereby; but as the springs 762 relieve the wheel against the jamming which at times may occur, all danger of breaking is avoided. The roller H can be adjusted by means of the screws k and l to secure any desired amount of compression; but in use I prefer to so arrange it that a sheet of ordinary writing-paper may just be.

The surface of the material in the molds is then trimmed flush by the knife R, whose oblique edge facilitates the cutting off of the surplus. The steel edge s o f the mold-not only lacts as a counter-shear, but is not liable to be dented or injured by the presence of hard materials in the asphalt. After leaving the knife R, the charged molds pass beneath the smooth heated surface of the plate T, and simultaneously the cam n raises the plunger D at that point and compresses the material from below. The effect of this double pressure of the contents of the mold, rst on top by the roller H and afterward on the bottom by the plunger D, is to compress and render compact each surface of the block to an extent which would not take place were the pressure applied on one side only. Moreover, the movement of the hot block against the stationary plate T smooths and polishes the outer surface, thus tending to close the pores thereof. During all this treatment the asphalt has been maintained in a properlyplastic condition by means of the several steam heating appliances; but after the blocks emerge from beneath the plate T they are sprinkled with cold waterfrom the jets t, to harden their surface. The rise of the cam n continuing, the blocks are gradually pushed out of the molds, the jets z/ now playing upon their sides, and on reaching the stop-barS 4they have completely emerged from the molds,

and are dislodged thereby from the surface of the plunger. They then fall upon they belt V, and are by its `movement carried under the stop-bar S and removed to a cold-water trough, or are otherwise cooled and permitted to completely solidify. The purpose of the outer cam, J, is to prevent the plunger D Afrom moving outward too soon through any cause, and the cam F draws in or depresses the plunger D into the proper position for permitting the molds to be filled from the reservoir K.

.Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, with a mold-wheel having a series of molds in 'its periphery, and pressing devices adapted to operate upon the material within said molds, of a series of heating-chambers intermediate between the molds, and suitable connections for admitting steam or other heating medium to said chambers, the whole operating` substantially as set forth, to maintain the contents of the molds in a plastic condition during the application of pressure thereto.

2. The combination, with a mold-wheel having a series of molds in its periphery, and continuous iianges on both sides of the molds, of a presser-roller fitting closely between said flanges and supported in spring-bearings, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

3. The combination, with a mold-wheel having a series of molds in its periphery, and continuous anges on both sides of the molds, of

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an open-bottom reservoir whose sides fit closely between said Jlanges, and an adjustable feedy gate, said reservoir being providedwith means,

substantially as set forth, tents.

4; The combination, with a mold-wheel havfor heating its conving in its periphery a series of molds containing movable plungers, heating-chambers between said molds, and suitable mechanism for moving said plungers radially outward, of a fixed presser-plate fitting closely against the periphery of the mold-wheel at those points in its rotation where the outward pressing movement of the plungers occurs, said presser-plate being provided. with a heating device, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination of theV flanged moldwheel having in its periphery a series of molds and plungers and mechanism for protruding and withdrawing said plungers, the reservoir, spring presser-roller and presser-plate fitting oloselyupon the periphery of said mold-wheel, betweenpsaid anges, and each provided with suitable heating devices, and the trimmingknife intermediate between the presser-roller and the presser-plate, the whole combined and operating substantially as set forth.

AUG. DIETZ.

fitnessesz J. WALTER DoUGLAss, VILLIAM W. FARE, Jr. 

